Which statement correctly reflects the general trend in wire choices for alarm installations?

• A. Stranded wire is most common on alarm work; solid may be required by code in some cases
• B. Solid wire is never used
• C. Coaxial cable is the standard for alarms
• D. Fiber optic cables are used in all alarms

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is understanding what kind of conductor is typically used for alarm wiring and why. Alarm systems usually rely on low‑voltage signaling that is run through tight spaces, walls, and conduits. Stranded copper wire is favored because its many small strands make it much more flexible than solid wire. That flexibility matters when you’re pulling wires through walls, around corners, or into small terminals, because it reduces the risk of kinks, fatigue, or breakage and makes termination at devices easier and more reliable.

Solid wire, by contrast, is stiffer and can be more prone to damage when bent or stressed at a terminal or along a long run in walls. Because of that, solid wire is less practical for the typical routes alarm wires take, though there are some situations where code or specific installations may call for solid conductors for certain in-wall runs.

The other choices aren’t representative of the general trend. Coaxial cable isn’t the standard for most alarm signaling, and fiber optic cables are used for networks or specialty communications, not for the usual alarm control circuits. So the described preference—stranded wire being most common with solid as a possible code-mandated exception—best reflects common practice.